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Constructions

{Most of Jim's art has not been professionally photographed; we're working on it.} 
Picture
James E. Brewton. "Key to Birmingham." 1964, mixed media construction with souvenir key to city of Birmingham, Ala., 12" x 12" (not including key). Private collection. Photo: Vera Carbo.
Picture
On June 7, 2020, we posted this image of "Key to Birmingham" on social media to participate in saying the names (#saytheirnames) of murdered Black Americans (#BlackLivesMatter). Philadelphia artist and poet Theodore A. Harris responded: "Thanks for this, a work Clement Greenberg would hate, because it's not just about the surface. The work is dealing with what's beneath the Surface Politics of aesthetics and formalism. His subject matter was about facing the world not retreating from it. Artworks are poetic keys to doors of which the locks are always being changed by the slum landlords whose minds are vacant. That blood splattered, grayish-silver square looks like a bloodthirsty guillotine or a window shade where we the viewer can see it is dark outside--and if that's the case then this work positions us on the inside of the bombed church, where we pay the price of the ticket for our faith in humanity."
Visit Theodore A. Harris's website here.
Brewton
James E. Brewton. "Spiritis Fermati pour W.C. Fields Rx ALFRED JARRY." n.d., eye-wash cup, bottle and label. Private collection.
Picture
James E. Brewton. "Ubu's Military Mind." 1962, mixed media metal construction, including some of Brewton's medals from service in the Korean War, 35" x 14". Gift to the James E. Brewton Foundation in 2020 from Jason Broede, Carol Broede, and Eric Olson. Photo: Elena Bouvier.
Picture
James E. Brewton. "Ubu's Military Mind" (back). The torn remnants of an exhibition label can be seen at top left.
Brewton Longest Crayola
James E. Brewton. "The Longest Crayola Drawing in the World." 1965, drawing on spool of adding-machine paper, housed in wooden box with turn crank to view the drawing.
Brewton Three Stander Stoppages for Wall and Floor
James E. Brewton. "Three Stander Stoppages for Wall and Floor." 1967, wood, plexiglas, mixed media, 13.5" x 42.5" x 2.5". Private collection.
Brewton Irony Bored (top)
James E. Brewton. "Irony Bored." 1967, private collection. (One of several constructions Brewton created with accompanying diagrams. The drawing for "Irony Bored" is titled "Sleeping Irony Bored with Advice.")
Brewton Irony Bored (side)
James E. Brewton. "Irony Bored." 1967, private collection (side view).
Brewton Kiss Cage (side)
James E. Brewton. "Kiss Cage." 1967, wooden cage with aluminum plate and coin. (The accompanying drawing is titled "Notes and Diagram for Kiss Cage without Bahrs." The diagram is damaged but stabilized.)
Brewton Kiss Cage (top)
James E. Brewton. "Kiss Cage." 1967, private collection (top view).
Brewton Discourse on Thinking 1
James E. Brewton. "Discourse on Thinking." 1966, mixed media construction with bottle, batteries, Rudolf Serkin autograph. Private collection.
Brewton Discourse on Thinking 2
James E. Brewton. "Discourse on Thinking." 1966, mixed media construction with bottle, batteries, Rudolf Serkin autograph. Private collection.
Brewton
James E. Brewton. "Automated Autograph." n.d., steel, 33" x 11" x 1.5". This artwork is missing; we believe it was shown in the exhibition, "Society for the Commemoration of Festivals and Fetishes," 15 May-7 June, 1967, Socrates Perakis Gallery, Philadelphia.
Brewton's Sea Trap
James E. Brewton. "Sea Trap." 1966, coat hooks, driftwood, 22" length; framed certificate, 11.5" x 9". Private collection. (Installation view at Brewton's solo exhibition, "Graffiti Pataphysic, for all mankind," 21 March-1 May, 2014, Slought, Philadelphia.)
Brewton missing stryo constr
This piece is missing; image is from a transparency found in Brewton's studio.

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Copyright © 2023 by James E. Brewton Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Thank you for visiting.
  • Home
  • About Jim Brewton
  • Art
    • Paintings
    • Prints & collages
    • Constructions
    • Drawings
    • Exhibitions
    • Awards & collections
    • Press
    • Missing works
  • About us
  • Updates
  • Contact | Support